Harness snap-hook



(Nmoael.) MBLKA.

'HARNESS SNAP HOOK. No. 550,189. Patented Nov. 19, 1895.

wif/@MZ (2d/e n than the old methods.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

A FRANK MELKA, OF FAIRCHILD, WISCONSIN.

HARNESS SNAP-HK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,189, dated November 19, 1895.-

Applioation filed June 12, 1895. Serial No. 552,552. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that l, FRANK MELKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairchild, in the county of Eau Claire, State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harness Snap-Hooks, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention is related to a class of improvements in harness-littings in which snaphooks are used to connect the different parts of the harness; and the objects of my improvement are to provide a lighter and more ornamental hook than those now in use, and as an article of merchandise to enable them to be manufactured from sheet-steel cheaper l attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-u Figure l is a vertical side view showing the snap hook closed and showing all parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical side view showing the hook in an open state. Fig. 3 is a vertical edge view showing the relative positions of all parts of the hook. Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the hooks, and they are both similar but used in a reversed position.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Two fork-shaped pieces of metal e e are provided with round holes, (shown at g and d, Fig. 1,) and they constitute the frame. Two S- shaped hooks a a,eXactly alike, are provided with an oblong aperture f in the center of their faces. The aperture is slightly curved to conform to the circle made by a radial line from the center at the round hole at d in the lower end of the hook. A lug is turned up at a right angle to the plane of the hook shown at b b, forming a flat surface for the thumb and iinger to rest upon. The hooks are slightly bent a little below the slot shown at lo 7c, Fig. 3, making an offset for the spring h. The hooks are placed against each other in reverse positions with one piece of the frame under and the other on top. Then arivet is put through all four pieces (shown at g, Fig. 3) and made secure by heading the rivet down on the frame-pieces. A square loop t', provided with eyes j j, is placed astride of the four parts at the lower end of the frame. Thenv a coilspring h with arms extending up into the curves in the hooks with its extreme ends resting against the edge of ,the hooks shown at c c, Fig. 3, is placed between them in the space provided for it.l Then a rivet d is put through all'parts and headed down, securing all together loosely, the rivet forming the pivot on which the hooks and spring swing. The spring h is intended to hold the upper ends of the hooks in a closed position constantly.

To operate this snap-hook, a strap may be buckled into the loop and thumb and nger placed on the lugs b b and pressed togetherA and the hooks will open, as shown at a' a', Fig. 2. When the pressure is removed, the spring will close around the ring or what it may be used on.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a snap hook the combination of the forked shaped frame pieces with the loop and spring in connection with the S hooks and rivet g, substantially as described.

- FRANK MELKA.

Witnesses:

WILJELM GAU, WM. F. HDOD. 

